Our Bureau
New York, NY
World-renowned Yoga Guru, Padma Shri Dr. H. R. Nagendra, President of S-VYASA University, Bengaluru, arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, along with the Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. N. K. Manjunath.
He was welcomed at the airport by Prem Bhandari, President of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York; Ajay Patel, Vice President of Jaipur Foot USA and Chief Coordinator of the Jaipur Foot USA Permanent Center in Trinidad & Tobago; officials from the Consulate General of India, New York, and other community leaders.
Several meetings and interaction programs in honor of Dr. Nagendra have been scheduled at the residence of Prem Bhandari in New York.
Dr. H. R. Nagendra is visiting the United States at the invitation of RANA New York. A major highlight of his visit will be his participation as Chief Guest at the International Day of Yoga celebrations at Times Square on June 21, 2026. The grand event is being organized by the Consulate General of India, New York.
It is noteworthy that Dr. H. R. Nagendra played a significant role in the planning and coordination of the first International Day of Yoga celebrations organized by the Government of India in 2015. He has also served as a member of the Padma Awards Selection Committee constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His contributions to yoga and holistic health have earned him worldwide recognition.
In 2019, on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, Dr. H. R. Nagendra and Prem Bhandari, Founding Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA and President of RANA New York, were honored with the “Yoga Ratna” Award at a special ceremony held in the British Parliament. The award was presented by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences in recognition of their contributions toward the promotion of yoga and Indian traditional knowledge systems in London.
Prior to the Times Square event, RANA New York, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA will organize special sessions on yoga, health, and wellness from June 12–14, 2026, at the renowned YO1 Longevity & Health Resorts in New York.
These sessions will be addressed by Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Dr. N. K. Manjunath, world-renowned interventional cardiologist Dr. Samin Sharma, Dr. Raj Bansal, founder of one of the largest ACO organizations in the United States, and Dr. Rekha Bhandari, Chief Medical Officer of one of America’s leading nursing home networks.
Dr. Samin Sharma and Dr. Rekha Bhandari have been honored with the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in the United States. The award is regarded as one of the highest civilian honors presented to immigrants in America and is recognized by both Houses of the U.S. Congress.
On June 22, 2026, the Consulate General of India, New York, in collaboration with RANA New York, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA, will host a special lecture by Dr. H. R. Nagendra, providing an opportunity to hear his views on yoga, health, and holistic living.
The series of yoga, wellness, and spirituality programs has received encouragement and best wishes from several distinguished personalities. Former Judge of the International Court of Justice, Dr. Dalveer Bhandari, conveyed his best wishes to Prem Bhandari for organizing these important programs in New York and also spoke with Yoga Guru Dr. H. R. Nagendra, extending his greetings for the successful conduct of the events.
Former Foreign Secretary of India, Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, also conveyed his best wishes through a telephone call and social media message, appreciating the efforts being made to promote yoga and India’s ancient wellness traditions in the United States.
Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and former Member of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Gyaneshwar Muley, likewise extended his best wishes to Prem Bhandari and praised the initiative to bring together leading experts in yoga, health, and holistic wellness for the benefit of the community.
Welcoming Dr. Nagendra and Dr. Manjunath, Prem Bhandari, President of RANA New York, said that their visit would further strengthen awareness of yoga, health, spirituality, and India’s ancient knowledge traditions among the Indian community and American society. He added that for more than a decade, RANA New York, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA have been actively promoting yoga at the United Nations Headquarters, Capitol Hill, Times Square, and various community platforms, and that Dr. Nagendra’s visit would provide new momentum to this ongoing mission.
